Switch



May 27, 1924. .l l,495,592

l H. HOLLAND SWITCH Filed April 18. 1919 PatentedMay 27, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE.

NEWMAN H. HOLLAND, OF WEST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNO'R TO JERSEY PATENTCOMPANY, 0F WEST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION 0F NEW JERSEY.

s wrrcn.

Application led April 18, 1919. Serial No. 291,050.

I n dictatingmachines the record supportv is usually rotated by means of 'a motor and isv started and stopped by a mechanical clutch, the device utilized for actuating the clutch beingeontrolled by the transcriber or operator, as she or he desires to start or stop A-the reproduction of sound oixmatter dictated, my means of a switch; I

One object of the invention is to provide an improved switch especially desi ned to control the starting and stopping o a dictating machine which requires very littleattention on the part of the transcriber or operator, which can be operated by a movement like that used to actuate a typewriter key and which yields to the same kind of touch, like movements being used either to start or stop the machine. Y

Another object of he invention is to provide a switch which automatically controls one circuit and then another alternately upon successive actuations.

The invention consists further in details of construction and combination of parts hereinafter more particularly described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing whic forms a part of the specification the single figure is an elevation of a preferred form o switch in accordance with the present invention.

`The improved switch embodying the present invention comprises a suitable cas,- ing 35 interiorly of and upon the bottom `0f which is secured a block36 of insulating material. Attached t0 the block 36 are spaced contacts 37 and 38 havin their adjacent ends upturned as indicate at 39. To the insidel of opposite vertical sides of the casing are secured blocks 40 'and41 of insulating. material having secured thereto Y leaf-spring contacts 42 and 43 having lportions lyingin substantially the same horizontal plane, spaced from each other, arranged above and parallel with the contacts 37 and 38 respectively and adapted to be ymovedinto engagement therewith,the con- .tacts 42 and 43 tending normally by reason of their inherent resiliency to` move out of engagement with the fixed contacts 37 and 38.

The casing 35 is provided with enlargements 44 and 45 arranged in vertical alignment and having aligned vertical openings receiving a plunger or actuating member 46 adapted to reciprocate therein. This plunger at its intermediate portion is provided with a cross-head 47 secured thereto by means of a set screw v48. A' coil spring or similar means 49 encircling the plunger is interposed between the cross-head 47 and 'the enlargement 45 and tends normally to hold the plunger elevated with the crosshead in engagement with the lower end of the enlargement 44 as indicated at 50. The A 4cross-head 47 is guided by and adapted to slide over surface 5l upon the casing. v Means is provided for alternately connecting the contacts of one circuit and then another automatically upon successive actuation of the plunger, the plunger being arranged to reciprocate in a direction at right angles to the contacts. In the pres- -ent instance this means comprises a star wheel 52 preferably of insulating material and rotatably mounted upon the cross-head- 47 by means of a pivot screw 53 on an axis lying in a vertical plane extending between the contacts 42 and 43. The star wheel comprises corn'ers 54, 55 etc. which engage the contacts 42v and 43 when the plunger is actuated. Secured to the Vstar wheel and in.-

terposed between the latter and the crosshead, is a ratchet 56 engaged by a springpressed pawl 57 to hold the star wheel against movement'in one direction especialoted 'at 61 extends over one end of the plunger and has an endv 62 which is adapted to be tapped or touched by the operator for depressing the lunger. J

To prevent t e lever 60. from being` displaced by the upward movement of the plunger, the former is provided on the side of the pivot 61 remote from the end 62 jwith a downwardly extending portion 63 constituting acstop, adapted to engage the `casing' 35 and limiting the upward movement ofthe lever.

Reference-characters 66 and 67 represent the conductors of one of the circuits conl trolled by the switch, these conductors being respectively connected to the contacts 43 and 38; while reference characters 68 and 69 represent conductors of another circuit controlled by the switch, such conductors being respectively connected to the contacts 37 and 42.

lThe operation ofthe form of my invention herein disclosed is as follows: f

When it is desired to'close the circuit of conductors 66. and 67, the parts being in the position shown in the figure, the lever v60 is depressed, Vmoving the plunger with the star wheel downwardly, the corner 54 of the star wheel engagin the contact 43 and closing its circuit. en the lever 60 is released the coil spring 49 elevates the cross-head and plunger, moving the star wheel.out of en agement with contact 43. As the star wheemoves upwardly the pawl 58 engages the ratchet 56, causes the rotation of the star wheel in a clockwise direction, looking at the drawing, and places the corner 54 in such position that upon the next succeeding actuation of the lever 60 the corner 54 will move thecontact 42 into engagement with the contact 37 thereyby closing the circuit of conductors 68 and 69. To prevent the star wheel from'slipping or moving when engaging contact 42 the latter is provided with a projectionor abutment 72 with whichA it engages to keep it in position. Whenthe lever 60 is again released" the plunger is elevated and the.

star wheel is moved clockwise another step,

x bringing lthe corner 55 into the position in the drawin the corner'54 'shown so t at upon thefnext succeeding actuation the corner 55 moves into engagement with the contact 43 and closes the circuit of conductor' 66 and 67 as first formerly occupied by described.

In order'to p reventy the star wheel from accidentally actuating both sets ofj contacts at the Sametime should the star wheel be incompletely advanced,'a stop 73 isinter- The circuits of conductors 66 and 67 and i of conductors 68 and 69 may be respectively employed to control the starting and stopping of la dictating machine.` If these circuits are 'so employed, it will be seen that if the lever 60 has been depressed to close the circuit of conductors 66 and 67 tb thereby effect the starting of the dictating machine, the next depression of this lever will effectthe closing of the circuit of conductors 68 and 69 to therebyeifect the stopping of the machine.

The present invention provides a single actuating device to control both circuits. The parts are so arranged and mounted -that the lever 60 can be depressed by very little effort on the part of the operator and with the same kind of touch as is used on a typewriter. The automatic means or star wheel rovides a construction requiring very little tiiought or attention because upon succeeding actuations first one circuit and then the other is closed automatically.

It is'to be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments and features specificall shown and described herein but that suc embodiments and features are subject to changes and modifications without any departure from the spirit of the invention.

Having now described the invention, what isclaimed as new and what it is desired to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows: Y

1. In a switch, contacts for a plurality of circuits, an actuating device comprising a member mounted for bodily movement towards and away from said contacts upon each actuation of said device and also for rotary movement, means for effecting a rotary movement of said member upon each actuation of said device, and means constantly tending to hold said member in a position out of engagement with all of said contacts, the arrangement being such that upon successive actuations of said device such member will enga epand disengage only aI contact of one o? said circuits and then only a contact of another of said circuits to thereby effect the closin and opening of the respective circuits, su stantially as described.

2. In a switch, contacts for a plurality of circuits, the contacts of each circuit being movable into engagement with each other to close a circuit, and an actuating device adapted upon successive movements thereof to a given position to alternately en age and move to circuit-closing position only a tact of the other circuit, said device being biased to a position out of engagementwith all of said contacts, substantially as. described.

3. In a switch, 4contacts for a plurality of circuits adjacent to and spaced from each other and arranged substantially in the same plane, the contacts of each circuit being movable into engagement with each other, and actuating means vunattached to all of said contacts and adapted upon successive movements thereof to a given position to alternately connect the contacts of one of said circuits and then of another, said means being biased to a position out of engagement with all of said contacts, substantially as described.

4. In a switch, contacts for a plurality of circuits, an actuatingy member and means movable with said member and adapted upon successive movements of said member to a given position to alternately engage only a -vcontact of one of said circuits and then only a contact of another, said means being biased to a position out of engagement with all of saidcontacts, substantially as described.

5. In a switch, contacts for a plurality of circuits, an actuating member, means movably mounted on said member for affecting only the contacts of one circuit and then only the contacts of the other circuit upon successive actuations of said member and means for imparting movement to said first means relaltively to said member upon said actuations,

said ,means being moved towards and away from said contacts upon each actuation of said member and bein biased to a position out of engagement wit all of said contacts, substantially as described.'

6. In a switch, contacts for a plurality of circuits, an actuating member, means movably mounted on said member for connecting the contacts of one circuit and then the other upon successive actuations of said member, and means for imparting movement to said movably mounted means relatively to said member upon said actuations, said movably mounted means being biased to a position out of engagement with all ofsaid contacts, substantially as described.

7. In a switch, contacts for a plurality of circuits, a lmember movable in opposite directions to respectively ei'ect the connection and disconnection of said contacts and means movably mounted on`said member and adapted to connect the contacts of one circuit and vthen the other upon successive movements of said. member in the same direction, said means being biased to a position out ofengagement with all of said contacts, substantially as described.

8. In '-a switch, contacts for a plurality of circuits in spaced relation to each other, a

reciprocating member, means rotatably mounted upon said member on an axis lying substantially in a plane between said contacts and means forimparting movement to said rotatable means whereby the latter is adapted to alternately engage a contact of one circuit and then of the other upon successive actuations of said member, said rotatable means being biased to a position out of engagement with all of said contacts, substantially as described.

9. In a switch, contacts for' aplurality of circuits, a star wheel mounted for rotary movement and also for bodily movement towards and away from said contacts, said star wheel being adapted upon successive movements thereof towards and away from said contacts, to first engage and disengage only a contact of one of said circuits and to then engage and disengage only a contact of the other of said circuits, means for actuating said wheel, and means constantly tending to maintain said wheel in a position out of engagement with all of said contacts, substantially as described.

10. In a switch, contacts for a plurality of circuits, a member movable in opposite directions, a starwheel rotatably mounted upon said member and adapted to alternately engage a Contact of one circuit and then of the other, means for automatically imparting a step-by-step movement to said wheel upon movement of said member and means tending to maintain said member and wheel in a given position out of engagement with all of said contacts, substantially as described.

11. In a switch, sets of contacts for a plu-' means from engaging said contacts should the former be de ressed prematurely, substantially as descrlbed. f

12. In apswitch, contacts for a plurality of circuits, an actuating member movable relatively to said contacts, means rotatably mounted on said member for engaging only a contact of one circuit and then only a contact of the other upon successive actuationsv ofsaid member, means for rotating said first means and means to prevent movement of said rotatable means when engaging said contacts, said rotatably mounted means being biased to a position out of engagement with all of said contacts, substantially as described.

13. In a switch, contacts for a plurality ofjcircuits, a member movable `relative to said contacts, means rotatably mounted on Asaid member and adapted to alternately engage a vcontact of one circuit and then of the other, means for automatically impart'- 4c5 ing a step-by-step movement to said rotatable means upon movement of said meinlber and means frictionally engaging said rotatable means, said rotatably mounted means being biased -to a position out ofenc gagement with all of said contacts, substantially as described.v 4

14. In a switch, a casing, contacts for a plurality of circuits arranged horizontally -in the lower portion of said casing, a ,mem- 15 ber adapted to reciprocate vertically .and

provided with a head guided by a portion of the casing, a star' Wheel rotatably mounted upon said head above` said contacts, a

This specication spring tending to maintain said star Wheel and reciprocating member in elevated posi' tion out of engagement with said contacts, a lever pivoted to said casing and overlying one end of said member for actuating the same, a ratchet Wheel secured to said star Wheel, a paWl pivoted to a portion of the casing and adapted to engage said ratchet Wheel whereby said star wheel is advanced istepby-step upon the reciprocating of said ,p

member so that the former will alternately engage a contact of one circuitpand then of 30 the other, and means to prevent movement vof the wheel when engaging said contacts, substantially as described.

signed -this 8th day of April, 1919. p g 35 NEWMAN H. HOLLANDQ 

